Workstation with CPU cabinet

ABSTRACT

A workstation having a work surface, a CPU cabinet, a file pedestal and an adjustable platform for a keyboard and mouse. The CPU cabinet shares a side wall with the workstation, and includes an inside side wall, a bottom wall, rear wall, also shared with the workstation, and a door. The interior space of the cabinet is for receiving the CPU and for causing it to be hidden. Wire and cable access are provided by a grommet covered opening in the rear wall and a recess in the inside side wall. Additional access to the CPU is achieved by opening the door.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a workstation with a central processing unit (CPU) cabinet and more particularly to a workstation with a CPU cabinet that is user friendly by allowing multiple access regions around the CPU for cables and wires while also providing an enclosure of the CPU for aesthetic reasons.

2. Description of the Related Art

Computers now occupy most offices because their use is often mandatory or highly desirable. CPUs in general and CPU towers in particular tend to be aesthetically displeasing resulting in a desire to hide the CPU in some fashion. Problems, however, develop because there is a need to connect wires and cables from the back or side of the CPU to a screen, a keyboard, a mouse and often a network. Also there is often a need to have access to a CD player at the front of the CPU.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

What is described here is a workstation having a cabinet for a CPU comprising an elevated work surface for supporting a computer screen, a cabinet disposed under the work surface and structured to conceal a CPU, the cabinet having a front door, an inside side wall, an outside side wall, a bottom wall, a rear wall and an interior space, the interior space for receiving the CPU. The inside side wall includes a front edge and a rear edge where the rear edge includes a recess for providing access to the interior space. The rear wall includes an opening covered by a removable grommet which also provides access to the interior space.

There are a number of advantages, features and objects achieved with the present invention. For example, one advantage is that the present invention provides for a workstation cabinet with excellent wire and cable access to a CPU stored inside the cabinet while also effectively hiding the CPU from casual view. Other objects of the present invention is to provide a workstation cabinet for hiding a CPU which is simply constructed and relatively inexpensive. A further advantage of the present invention is that the workstation CPU cabinet includes access from the front, side and back of the CPU. Yet another feature of the present invention is to provide a workstation cabinet including an attractive, but very functional grommet for cable control and ventilation.

A more complete understanding of the present invention and other objects, advantages and features thereof will be gained from a consideration of the following description of a preferred embodiment read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing provided herein. The preferred embodiment represents an example of the invention which is described here in compliance with Title 35 U.S.C. section 112 (first paragraph), but the invention itself is defined by the attached claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a right side isometric view of a workstation with a CPU cabinet where the door of the cabinet is in an open position and with a CPU, a screen, a keyboard and a mouse displayed.

FIG. 2 is a left side isometric view of the workstation with the CPU cabinet but without the CPU, screen, keyboard and mouse.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a portion of the workstation shown in FIG. 2 but with the door of the cabinet in a closed position.

FIG. 4 is a rear isometric view of the workstation shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and illustrating an opening in the rear of the workstation covered by a grommet.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged rear isometric view of the workstation illustrating the opening in the rear of the workstation with the grommet removed.

FIG. 6 is a rear isometric view of the workstation illustrating the removed grommet leaning against the workstation.

FIG. 7 is a rear isometric view of the workstation illustrating the grommet and a grommet frame removed from the opening in the rear of the workstation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

While the present invention is open to various modifications and alternative constructions, the preferred embodiment shown in the various figures of the drawing will be described herein in detail. It is understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the particular embodiment, form or example which is disclosed. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalent structures and methods, and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims, pursuant to Title 35 U.S.C. section 112 (second paragraph).

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there is shown a workstation 10 in the form of a desk or credenza. As can be seen, the desk provides a work surface 11 for supporting a computer screen 12. Mounted to the work surface is an adjustable platform 14 for supporting a keyboard 16 and a mouse 18. Beneath the work surface is a CPU cabinet 20 for enclosing a CPU 21. Opposite the CPU cabinet and also disposed under the work surface is a file pedestal 22. Between the cabinet and the pedestal is an open area for the legs of an operator (not shown) seated in front of the keyboard and the mouse.

The workstation includes, in addition to the working surface, left and right side walls 24, 26 and a rear wall 28.

The CPU cabinet includes an outside side wall 30, an inside side wall 32, a rear wall 34, a bottom wall 36, a door 38 and an interior space 40.

It is now readily apparent that the outside side wall 30 of the CPU cabinet is the same as the right side wall 26 of the workstation, and the rear wall 34 of the CPU cabinet is a portion of the rear wall 28 of the workstation.

The door is hinged to the outside side wall 30 and the cabinet may include a lock 42 for the door so as to prevent the unauthorized removal of the CPU.

The inside side wall 32 of the cabinet includes a front edge 44 which abuts the door 38 when it is closed. The inside side wall also includes a rear edge 46 with a recess 48 forming an opening 50 to allow access to the interior space 40. Of course, access to the interior space is also allowed when the door 38 is open as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The CPU 21 is disposed on the bottom wall 36 of the cabinet and between the inside side wall 32 and the outside side wall 30 so as to occupy a portion of the interior space 40 of the cabinet. It is readily apparent that when a CPU is located within the interior space 40, access to the front of the CPU is provided by opening the door and access to the back and left rear portions of the CPU is provided through the opening 50 created by the recess 48 in the rear edge 46 of the inside side wall 32.

Access to the back of the CPU can also be gained through an opening 60, FIGS. 2 and 3, in the rear wall of the cabinet/workstation. A better view of the opening in the rear wall may be gained by reference to FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7. Mounted to the rear wall around the opening is a grommet frame 62 and mounted to the frame is a grommet 64.

The grommet 64 includes a peripheral portion 63 and a central portion 65. The central portion includes four vertically aligned, semi-circular openings 66, 68, 70, 72 for cables, wires and the like and six thin slots 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84 for air circulation. The semi-circular openings have bullet-like configurations and are aligned vertically, one opening over another. The slots are narrow and are vertically arrayed and aligned horizontally. These alignments have been found to be most effective and efficient for handling wires and cables and for venting heat generated by the CPU. The grommet and frame may be constructed of any suitable synthetic resin material and the frame may be mounted to the rear wall by a friction fit. The opening 60 in the rear wall is square shaped as is the shape of the frame and outer periphery of the grommet. The grommet itself may be mounted to the frame by a friction fit or a snap fit.

It may now be appreciated that the workstation is simply constructed and relatively inexpensive. At the same time, a CPU may be hidden from view without any resulting loss of access to the back and rear portions where wires and cables attach. Also, there is no loss of access to the front of the CPU.

In operation, a CPU is placed within the cabinet and cables, cords and/or wires from outside the workstation may be connected to the CPU by passing them through the grommet. For example, this allows the CPU to connect to an electrical source and to a network. Cables, cords or wires may also pass from the CPU through the grommet along the outside of the rear wall of the workstation to connect to the screen and/or the keyboard and the mouse. Alternatively, cables, cords or wires from the back or side of the CPU may also pass through the opening 50 and from there extend through an opening (not shown) in the work surface before connecting to the screen and/or the keyboard and the mouse. Hence, once the CPU has been positioned on the bottom wall in the interior space, running cable, cords or wires to and from the CPU is quite easily done by virtue of a user having access through the opening 60 in the back wall or the opening 50 along the rear portion of the CPU.

Access to the front of the CPU is, as already mentioned, easily achieved by opening the door. Thus, CDs or other disks may be easily installed and removed without difficulty.

It should now be apparent that the advantages of easy access to the CPU is efficiently and inexpensively achieved. At the same time, the objective of hiding the CPU from view is also effectively and inexpensively achieved.

The above specification describes in detail the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Other examples, embodiments, modifications and variations will, under both the literal claim language and the doctrine of equivalents, come within the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims. For example, the cabinet and workstation need not share side and rear walls and the shape of the grommet may differ. These will still be considered to be equivalent structures. Further, they will come within the literal language of the claims. Still other alternatives will also be equivalent as will many new technologies. There is no desire or intention here to limit in any way the application of the doctrine of equivalents nor to limit or restrict the scope of the invention. 

1. A workstation having a cabinet for a central processing unit comprising: an elevated work surface for supporting a computer screen; a cabinet disposed under said elevated work surface and structured to conceal a central processing unit; said cabinet having a front door, an inside side wall, an outside side wall, a bottom wall, a rear wall and an interior space; said interior space for receiving a central processing unit; said inside side wall having a front edge and a rear edge, said rear edge including a recess for providing access to said interior space and to a central processing unit disposed therein; and said rear wall includes an opening covered by a removable grommet for providing access to said interior space and a central processing unit disposed therein.
 2. The workstation as claimed in claim 1 including: a rear wall, a portion of which forms said rear wall of said cabinet.
 3. The workstation as claimed in claim 1 including: a side wall which also forms said outside side wall of said cabinet.
 4. The workstation as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said door is hinged to said outside side wall of said cabinet.
 5. The workstation as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said bottom wall extends from a front of said interior space to said rear wall of said cabinet.
 6. The workstation as claimed in claim 1 including: an opening formed by said bottom wall, said cabinet rear wall and said recessed rear edge of said inside side wall wherein access is provided to a rear portion of a central processing unit disposed in said interior space.
 7. The workstation as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said grommet includes a plurality of curved openings.
 8. The workstation as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said grommet includes a plurality of slotted openings.
 9. The workstation as claimed in claim 1 including: a grommet frame mounted to said cabinet rear wall around said rear wall opening.
 10. The workstation as claimed in claim 1 including: a pedestal located spaced from said cabinet and disposed under said elevated work surface.
 11. The workstation as claimed in claim 1 including: a keyboard platform mounted to said elevated surface.
 12. The workstation as claimed in claim 1 including: an opening formed by said bottom wall, said rear wall and said recessed rear edge of said inside side wall, wherein access is provided to a rear portion of a central processing unit disposed in said interior space; and wherein said grommet includes a plurality of curved openings.
 13. The workstation as claimed in claim 12 wherein: said grommet includes a plurality of slotted openings.
 14. The workstation as claimed in claim 13 including: a grommet frame mounted to said cabinet rear wall around said rear wall opening.
 15. The workstation as claimed in claim 14 wherein: said door is hinged to said outside side wall of said cabinet.
 16. The workstation as claimed in claim 15 including: a pedestal located spaced from said cabinet and disposed under said elevated work surface; and a keyboard platform mounted to said elevated work surface.
 17. The workstation claimed in claim 16 including: a rear wall, a portion of which forms said rear wall of said cabinet; a side wall which also forms said outside wall of said cabinet; and wherein said bottom wall extends from the front of said interior space to said rear wall of said cabinet.
 18. The workstation as claimed in claim 17 including: a lock to secure said door.
 19. A grommet for covering an opening in a workstation wherein said grommet includes: a peripheral portion and a central portion, said peripheral portion for mounting the grommet and said central portion for organizing electrical and/or data transmission cables and/or wires and for providing ventilation, said central portion including a first section having a plurality of openings, each opening having at least some part formed with a curved geometry and a second section having a plurality of elongated slots.
 20. The grommet as claimed in claim 19 wherein: the plurality of openings are aligned; and the plurality of elongated slots are aligned.
 21. The grommet as claimed in claim 20 wherein: the plurality of openings are aligned vertically.
 22. The grommet as claimed in claim 21 wherein: the elongated slots are arranged to have a vertical disposition and the plurality of elongated slots are aligned horizontally.
 23. The grommet as claimed in claim 22 wherein: each of the plurality of openings has a bullet-like configuration.
 24. The grommet as claimed in claim 22 wherein: each of the plurality of elongated slots has a narrow opening.
 25. The grommet as claimed in claim 19 wherein: each of the plurality of openings has a bullet-like configuration.
 26. The grommet as claimed in claim 19 including: a frame for engaging said workstation at said workstation opening.
 27. The grommet as claimed in claim 26 wherein: the peripheral portion of said grommet engages said frame.
 28. The grommet as claimed in claim 27 wherein: the plurality of openings are aligned; and the plurality of elongated slots are aligned.
 29. The grommet as claimed in claim 28 wherein: the plurality of openings are aligned vertically.
 30. The grommet as claimed in claim 29 wherein: the elongated slots are arranged to have a vertical disposition and the plurality of elongated slots are aligned horizontally.
 31. The grommet as claimed in claim 30 wherein: each of the plurality of openings has a bullet-like configuration.
 32. The grommet as claimed in claim 31 wherein: each of the plurality of elongated slots has a narrow opening. 